Post-Thanksgiving Count Expected in Undecided Saland Race

Dutchess County elections officials have indicated they may wait until after Thanksgiving to begin the recount in the contested Senate race in the Hudson Valley between Sen. Stephen Saland, R-Poughkeepsie, and Democrat Terry Gipson.

Gipson holds a roughly 1,600-vote lead, and there are more than 7,000 absentee ballots to be counted.

“Based on counsel availability, we would start counting the 40th on the 20th and start in the 41st on the 26th. The 19th CLD being part of the 41st would be part of that count,” Haight wrote. The 41st District is the Gipson-Saland race. The 40th is a seat won by Sen. Greg Ball; his Democratic opponent Justin Wagner conceded today.

Democrats told the Times Union today that Republicans are stalling to keep the Senate majority picture cloudy. As it stands, each side as 31 votes, with two races — Saland-Gipson and Republican George Amedore versus Democrat Cecilia Tkaczyk undecided. Tkaczyk has a 139-vote lead.